Tag: Animal-Machine Interaction

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The Robodog Project is Done

“The Robodog Project: Bao Meets Pluto” examined how domestic dogs respond to the Unitree Go2 quadruped robot – nicknamed Bao by project initiator Prof. Dr. Oliver Bendel – and how their owners perceive such robots in shared public spaces. The project began in late March 2025 and was completed in early August 2025. The study addressed three questions: (1) How do dogs behaviorally respond to a quadruped robot across six conditions: stationary, walking, and jumping without an additional dog head, and stationary, walking, and jumping with an additional 3D-printed dog head? (2) What are owners’ expectations and concerns? (3) What regulatory frameworks could support safe integration? Twelve dogs were observed in six structured interaction phases; their behavior was video-coded using BORIS.Another dog participated in a preliminary test but not in the actual study. Pre-exposure interviews with eight owners, as well as an expert interview with a biologist and dog trainer, provided additional insights. Led by Selina Rohr, the study found most dogs were cautious but not aggressive. Curiosity increased during robot movement, while visual modifications had little impact. However, a 3D-printed dog head seemed to interest the dogs quite a bit when the robot was in standing mode. Dogs often sought guidance from their owners, underlining the role of human mediation. Owners were cautiously open but emphasized concerns around safety, unpredictability, and liability. The findings support drone-like regulation for robot use in public spaces.

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When Animals and Robots Meet

The volume “Animals, Ethics, and Engineering: Intersections and Implications”, edited by Rosalyn W. Berne, was published on 7 August 2025. The authors include Clara Mancini, Fiona French, Abraham Gibson, Nic Carey, Kurt Reymers, and Oliver Bendel. The title of Oliver Bendel’s contribution is “An Investigation into the Encounter Between Social Robots and Animals”. The abstract reads: “Increasingly, social robots and certain service robots encounter, whether this is planned or not, domestic, farm, or wild animals. They react differently, some interested, some disinterested, some lethargic, some panicked. Research needs to turn more to animal-robot relationships, and to work with engineers to design these relationships in ways that promote animal welfare and reduce animal suffering. This chapter is about social robots that are designed for animals, but also those that – for different, rather unpredictable reasons – meet, interact, and communicate with animals. It also considers animal-friendly machines that have emerged in the context of machine ethics. In the discussion section, the author explores the question of which of the presented robots are to be understood as social robots and what their differences are in their purpose and in their relationship to animals. In addition, social and ethical aspects are addressed.” The book was produced by Jenny Publishing and can be ordered via online stores.

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When the Robodog is Barked at

Animal-machine interaction (AMI) is a discipline or field of work that deals with the interaction between animals and machines. This is how Prof. Dr. Oliver Bendel explains it in the Gabler Wirtschaftslexikon. It is primarily concerned with the design, evaluation, and implementation of complex machines and computer systems with which animals interact and which in turn interact and communicate with animals. There are close links to animal-computer interaction (ACI). Increasingly, the machine is a robot that is either remote-controlled or (partially) autonomous. In “The Robodog Project” (also known as “Bao Meets Pluto“), the encounters between robotic quadrupeds and small to medium-sized dogs are explored. The project collaborator is Selinar Rohr, who is writing her bachelor’s thesis in this context. The walking, running, and jumping Unitree Go2 from Oliver Bendel’s private Social Robots Lab is in its original state or is wearing a head made with a 3D printer provided by Norman Eskera. The project is being carried out at the FHNW School of Business and will end on August 12, 2025, after which the results will be presented to the community and, if possible, to the general public.

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The Robodog Project

Robotic quadrupeds – often referred to as robot dogs – are becoming more and more widespread. As a result, they will increasingly encounter real dogs. The question is how to design and construct the robot in such a way that the animals do not overreact and neither robots nor animals or bystanders are harmed in any way. As part of “The Robodog Project”, smaller dogs are to be confronted with the walking, running and jumping Unitree Go2 from Prof. Dr. Oliver Bendel’s private Social Robots Lab. The plan is to visit controllable environments such as dog training grounds and arrange meetings and discussions with dog owners. The results will lead to suggestions for design and control. Robot enhancement can also play a role. For example, robot enthusiasts have used a 3D printer to produce cartoonish heads for the Unitree Go2, giving it a completely different look. The project – also known as “Bao Meets Pluto” after the pet name of the robotic four-legged friend and the Disney character – was launched at the FHNW School of Business at the end of March 2025. It is part of Oliver Bendel’s research in the field of animal-machine interaction (AMI). Selina Rohr, who is writing her Bachelor’s thesis on the topic, has been recruited as a member of the team. She met Bao at a get-together at the end of April 2025 and let it run and jump around the room.

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The Robodog Project Starts

Robotic four-legged friends – often referred to as robot dogs – are becoming more and more widespread. As a result, they will also encounter more and more real dogs. The question is how to design, control, and program the robot in such a way that the animals do not overreact and cause no harm to robots, animals, or bystanders. As part of “The Robodog Project”, smaller dogs are to be confronted with a walking, running, and jumping Unitree Go2. The plan is to visit controllable environments such as dog training grounds and arrange meetings with dog owners. The findings will lead to suggestions for design and control. Robot enhancement can also play a role here. For example, hobbyists have produced heads for Unitree Go2 using a 3D printer, giving the robot a completely different look. Suggestions for programming will also be made. The project is due to start at the FHNW School of Business in March 2024. It is part of Prof. Dr. Oliver Bendel’s research in the field of animal-machine interaction.

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13 Animal-Related Concepts and Artifacts

Since 2012, Oliver Bendel has developed 13 concepts and artifacts in the field of animal-computer interaction (ACI) or animal-machine interaction (AMI) together with his students. They can be divided into three categories. The first are animal- and nature-friendly concepts. The second are animal-friendly machines and systems (i.e., forms of moral machines). The third are animal-inspired machines and systems that replace the animals or bring them closer to you. Articles and book chapters have been published on many of the projects. The names of the developers can be found in these. A few prototypes made it into the media, such as LADYBIRD and HAPPY HEDGEHOG. Oliver Bendel repeatedly refers to Clara Mancini, the pioneer in the field of animal-computer interaction. Recently, ethicists such as Peter Singer have also turned their attention to the topic.

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When Animals Meet Machines

The manuscript of the book “Non-Human Animals, Ethics and Engineering” (alternative title “Animals, Ethics and Engineering”) was sent to the publisher Jenny Stanford in May 2024. It contains 16 chapters on this topic, including by Clara Mancini (“Animal-Centered Technology and Sustainable Development”), Fiona French (“Designing and Crafting Systems for Non-Human Animals”), and Leonie Bossert together with Thilo Hagendorff (“Animals and AI: The Role of Animals in AI Research and Application”). In “An Investigation into the Encounter Between Social Robots and Animals” (Chapter 12), Oliver Bendel “delves into the evolving landscape of social robots designed to interact with animals, dissecting the intricate dynamics of these interactions and their ethical ramifications” (Information from the editors). The philosopher of technology also presents his own projects, such as concepts and prototypes of animal-friendly machines, developed in the context of machine ethics, animal-machine interaction, and social robotics. The editors are Rosalyn W. Berne and Madeline A. Kibler from the University of Virginia. The book is scheduled for publication in late summer or fall 2024.

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“The Animal Whisperer” Project Starts

On March 18, 2024, the kick-off meeting for the project “The Animal Whisperer” took place at the FHNW School of Business. It was initiated by Prof. Dr. Oliver Bendel, who has been working on animal-computer interaction and animal-machine interaction for many years. Nick Zbinden, a student of business information systems, has been recruited to work on the project. As part of his final thesis, he will develop three GPT-4-based applications that can be used to analyze the body language and environment of cows, horses and dogs. The aim is to avert danger to humans and animals. For example, a hiker can receive a recommendation on their smartphone not to cross a pasture if a mother cow and her calves are present. All they have to do is call up the application and take a photo of the area. Nick Zbinden will evaluate literature and conduct several expert interviews to find out more about the situation of farm and domestic animals and their behavior. He will demonstrate the possibilities, but also the limitations of multimodal language models in this context. The results will be available in August 2024 (Image: DALL-E 3).

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New Channel on Animal Law and Ethics

The new YouTube channel “GW Animal Law Program” went online at the end of November 2023. It collects lectures and recordings on animal law and ethics. Some of them are from the online event “Artificial Intelligence & Animals”, which took place on 16 September 2023. The speakers were Prof. Dr. Oliver Bendel (FHNW University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland), Yip Fai Tse (University Center for Human Values, Center for Information Technology Policy, Princeton University), and Sam Tucker (CEO VegCatalyst, AI-Powered Marketing, Melbourne). Other videos include “Tokitae, Reflections on a Life: Evolving Science & the Need for Better Laws” by Kathy Hessler, “Alternative Pathways for Challenging Corporate Humanewashing” by Brooke Dekolf, and “World Aquatic Animal Day 2023: Alternatives to the Use of Aquatic Animals” by Amy P. Wilson. In his talk, Oliver Bendel presents the basics and prototypes of animal-computer interaction and animal-machine interaction, including his own projects in the field of machine ethics. The YouTube channel can be accessed at www.youtube.com/@GWAnimalLawProgram/featured.

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Artificial Intelligence & Animals

The online event “Artificial Intelligence & Animals” will take place on 16 September 2023. “AI experts and attorneys will discuss the intersection of AI and animals in this UIA Animal Law Commission and GW Animal Law webinar” (Website Eventbrite) Speakers are Prof. Dr. Oliver Bendel (FHNW University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland), Yip Fai Tse (University Center for Human Values, Center for Information Technology Policy, Princeton University), and Sam Tucker (CEO VegCatalyst, AI-Powered Marketing, Melbourne). Panelists are Ian McDougall (Executive Vice President and General Counsel, LexisNexis London), Jamie McLaughlin (Animal Law Commission Vice President, UIA), and Joan Schaffner (Associate Professor of Law, George Washington University). Oliver Bendel “has been thinking on animal ethics since the 1980s and on information and machine ethics since the 1990s”. “Since 2012, he has been systematically researching machine ethics, combining it with animal ethics and animal welfare. With his changing teams, he develops animal-friendly robots and AI systems.” (Website Eventbrite)